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Florida Democratic Party News Clips - August 22

Posted August 22, 2012

IF YOU ONLY READ ONE THINGMedicaid cuts [Tampa Bay Times guest column] "My son was born with a neuromuscular disease and needs a ventilator to breathe. Even though he is vent-dependent, he can use a Medicaid waiver that enables him to live at home with a family that cares for him, a community that values his contributions, and at far less cost than institutional care…this presidential election will have a great effect on care for people with disabilities. President Obama believes that 'all Americans — including people with disabilities and seniors — should be able to live at home with the supports they need, participating in communities that value their contributions — rather than in nursing homes or other institutions.' Does our governor? Does his party?"

Scott picks ideology over residents' health [Tampa Bay Times editorial] "Gov. Rick Scott and his right-wing extremists in the Legislature are putting their hatred of President Barack Obama and health care reform ahead of Florida's poor children. Their rejection of a modest federal grant that has helped dozens of families in Pinellas County and hundreds statewide shamefully values rigid political ideology over the well-being of our own residents. But such callous calculations do not reflect the values of Floridians, who should demand better."

Medicaid plan would transform health care in Florida [Orlando Sentinel] "Florida's fast-growing Medicaid program -- which cares for the state's impoverished children and for most senior citizens in nursing homes -- would lose roughly a third of its federal money under budget plans embraced by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan."

ON THE CONGRESSIONAL FRONT — DEMS ON OFFENSE ACROSS THE STATE, RIVERA BACK UNDER FIRE FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE CONTROVERSY

Akin’s comments reverberate in Florida races [Sarasota Herald Tribune] "Fitzgerald called on Buchanan 'not only to condemn his colleague’s remarks, but to withdraw his support of appalling legislation that would have narrowed the definition of rape under federal law'…Pinellas County Democrat Jessica Ehrlich similarly used the same legislation to criticize U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, in their 13th Congressional District race. In a fundraising letter, Ehrlich said Young’s support of the same 2011 legislation Fitzgerald cited makes Young from the 'same school of thought' as Akin."

Akin factor: Dems blast Hasner’s support for Ryan budget as anti-woman; Hasner rips ‘scare tactics’ [Palm Beach Post] "Democrats have long blasted Paul Ryan‘s budget plan as a threat to seniors, but today the Florida Democratic Party reframed it as a threat to women. The Democrats accused Republican congressional candidate Adam Hasner of supporting a plan that 'would turn Medicare into a voucher program, raising the cost of healthcare for women in south Florida by thousands of dollars every year'…The Florida Dems also highlighted former state House majority leader Hasner’s support in Tallahassee for legislation requiring a woman seeking an abortion to first view an ultrasound and other votes that included cutting money for women’s health programs."

SD-34: Sachs hits airwaves in battle for Senate seat [Sun Sentinel] "Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, has hit the airwaves with her first ad out in her general election match-up against Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale. The race is a top priority for both the Democratic and Republican parties and is expected to be one of the more expensive legislative races this fall."

Sen. Sobel: Romney-Ryan are devastating for women's individual rights [Sun Sentinel Op Ed] "For the first time in decades, women again find themselves having to defend their individual and most personal rights. Women's issues laid to rest years ago have re-emerged as the Republican Party has moved further to the right in a frivolous attempt to fight our battles of the past."

Change constitution to protect Florida’s natural resources [Palm Beach Post guest column] "Florida legislators have cut conservation spending more deeply than any other part of government. Since 2009, the Legislature has provided only $23 million for the landmark Florida Forever program, a 97.5 percent reduction. State appropriations for land management and ecological restoration, including Everglades projects, have suffered similar declines. "

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